Dark and twisted and perhaps not my favorite genre. A difficult read with the writing and perhaps a bit hard to follow with the multiple POV.

i LOVE a good multi pov ya book and this knocked all comparisons out of the park. my first time reading cj simone and definitely not the last. the genre blend was perfect for me, and as a primarily romance girl i wasn’t let down. intense and fast paced, i would recommend to anyone seeking a thrill!

Ich weiß ehrlich gesagt nicht, wie ich dieses Buch bewerten soll, da ich es aufgrund relativ kurzer Ausleihdauer (ohne Verlängerung) nicht lesen konnte.

I wanted to love this, especially after the FMC and I share a name…. But it was just too difficult to read. The premises were there but lacked execution.

I loved the storyline, the darkness and horror but at times the book felt inconsistent. Even after all that I still throughly enjoyed the book.

While I did appreciate the commentary on mental health and the uniqueness of this story, the writing style felt choppy and repetitive.  I found myself cringing at a lot of the dialogue, and the multiple POVs felt a bit exhausting at times. This story is twisty and full of dark topics, but there was a strange juxtaposition with a sort of juvenile writing style (for lack of a better word) and the heavy themes. I do understand that this is a YA book, but the tone and subject matter of the book did not really match the writing style. I appreciated that the main character, Gabe, was not your typical YA main character and that we explored his mental health struggles in an interesting way, but I did not fully care about his character (or any of the characters in this book). Overall, I think this book had a great premise but lacked execution for me.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an eArc in exchange for an honest review*

Dark, twisted, and terrifyingly honest, the Manic Mission is a must-read for all who want the perfect dive into the shadows.

While the writing of this book was well done and highly immersive, the themes were a bit frightening. I would also like to say, when they mentioned the trigger warnings, THEY WERE THERE. There IS sibling abuse, domestic abuse, etc.
Okay, so, housework now out of the way, let's get to the bottom of this.
I hated the characters.
So,
so much.
Savannah deserved so much better than a guy who refused to try to fix himself, who cheated and then got jealous. Savannah wanted a steady boyfriend, so when Gabe and her broke it off, she tried to get a steady relationship with Ray that Gabe tried to intrude upon by being all jealous and snarly, then, when Savannah questioned his new relationship with Mayson, he got all cagey and said she had no right to pry. MAJOR WARNING, GIRLS! That is abuse, whether or not it seems like it. Also, that scene where Gabe licked her navel in front of Ray and Kallie was major-league weird. Not cute, dude. Urgh, Gabe was that character who was supposed to pass as charming because he's hot and tortured. No. If he's a dick, he's a dick, ain't two ways 'bout it. Claire Noel carried this book, with Kallie sharing joint custody, because I NEEDED these guys! Jackie, I honestly felt bad for. Imagine having MAYSON as your sister.
Gross.
Gabe's infatuation with her was another HUGE red flag, and when Savannah asked him to forget his feelings for her, his answer was that of a guy afraid of commitment. Dude kissed another girl in front of her under the pretense that if he couldn't have Savannah, [because he had no intention of working for her] why shouldn't he humiliate and degrade her and their relationship?
GROSS.
While the writing was good, and some of the characters were great, Gabe and his issues brought down the whole book. Brilliant, but not my cup of tea.
Thank you, NetGalley, for an e-ARC copy of this book.

I had an incredibly hard time getting through this one. The writing style with the short, choppy sentences made it hard to get through and the plot itself seemed short. I also didn't care for any of the characters because of the writing. This book was not very engaging or enticing at all.

"The Manic Mission" presents a gripping narrative woven with suspense, danger, and complex family dynamics. I like how the story explores the intertwining lives of Gabe, Savannah, Claire, and Kallie, each grappling with their own challenges and desires amidst the looming threat of the mafia. As Gabe navigates his secret mission to redeem himself and protect his loved ones, the tension escalates, drawing readers deeper into the murky world of organized crime. Simone skillfully blends elements of romance, thriller, and family drama, creating a compelling narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. With its multifaceted characters and intricate plot, "The Manic Mission" promises an enthralling start to the "Children of the Mob" series.

C.J. Simone's Manic Mission offers a fast-paced story that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. With its multi-POV narrative, the book provides a rich and multifaceted exploration of the lives of a dysfunctional family, capturing the complexities of their relationships and individual struggles.

At its core, Manic Mission is a story about identity and self-discovery. The protagonist's journey of distancing themselves from their family's expectations and forging their own path is a relatable and compelling narrative thread that will resonate with young adult readers.

This book wasn't for me. I didn't like the writing style with the short, choppy sentences. I didn't think it was very readable and came across to me as a first draft. I kept reading despite that, but I just couldn't get into the plot. It had a lot of potential, but I didn't like the way it was executed.

I did not finish this one. I disliked Gabe quite a bit and just couldn’t get into the plot. It’s quite repetitive, and I found myself skipping a lot of the time. Lots of cliche and not a lot of actual effort into depth of characters

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review
I couldn't go through this book Gabe is so annoying the way he speaks gets on my nerves, this was poorly written I couldn't even finish it, it put me in a book slump that I had to DNF it

Wow this was not for me. It was dramatic, but not in an enticing or engaging way. It alternated narrators, but the primary narrator was wholly unlikeable. The premise was ridiculous. No disrespect to the author, but I hated hated hated it. Made it maybe a quarter of the way through and had to give up.

Well. I didn’t hate this book but I didn’t exactly love it either. The plot was interesting enough to keep my attention but the writing is not well done. I ended up not caring about the characters and due to the very repetitive use of phrases I found myself rolling my eyes quite a bit. I can see that while this book was trying to shed a light on mental illness, I just think it didn’t quite hit the mark.

This book was pretty good. It is very different than what I usually read. But I enjoyed it. The writing was very good. I would recommend

I thought this was an interesting and exciting book to read. Getting a glimpse into the world of a teenage boy with bipolar disorder is a point of view I had not read before. I also loved seeing the mob world unfold. Thank you for this story!

Thank you to netgalley and C.J. Simone Fiction, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for allowing me to read this book. This was a very interesting read.

"The Manic Mission" by C.J Simone takes readers on a thrilling journey into a world of mobsters, redemption, and the enduring bonds of friendship. Set against the backdrop of Gabe Giordano's desperate quest to distance himself from his mob-connected father, this novel weaves together the stories of Gabe, Savannah Fletcher, Claire Noel Brooks, and Kallie Giordano, unveiling a web of secrets and danger that threatens to consume them all. Gabe Giordano, the lead of the popular band Shine, is determined to prove that he is nothing like his notorious father. Driven by his manic episodes, Gabe embarks on clandestine missions to seek redemption by taking on the dirtiest mobsters. However, his reckless bravery not only puts his own life at risk but also endangers those closest to him, making them targets of the mafia. Savannah Fletcher, Gabe's best friend and co-singer in Shine, finds herself entangled in a web of hardship and danger due to her lingering feelings for Gabe. Despite her attempts to move on with a carefree biker, she cannot escape the emotional turmoil that Gabe brings into her life, putting her in harm's way once again. Claire Noel Brooks, an isolated artist and beauty seeker, becomes fascinated with the arrival of the beautiful and wealthy Giordano family in her quiet lakeside community during Christmas. However, beneath their facade of beauty and wealth lie ugly secrets linked to their first million-dollar deal. As history repeats itself, Claire finds herself drawn into their dark world. Kallie Giordano, the protective older sister of Gabe, has always shielded him from harm. But when faced with ruthless mobsters, she realizes that her martial arts skills may not be enough to save her family. As she confronts the possibility that Gabe's claims about threats from within their own family could be true, Kallie is forced to confront her own limits and face the truth about those she loves. Simone skillfully crafts a gripping narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The characters are multi-dimensional and relatable, each grappling with their own insecurities and desires. The author's vivid descriptions bring the lakeside community to life, contrasting its tranquility with the darkness lurking beneath the surface. "The Manic Mission" is a captivating novel that explores themes of loyalty, redemption, and the lengths we are willing to go to protect the ones we love. Simone's storytelling prowess keeps readers engrossed from start to finish, as they navigate a world of danger, secrets, and the ever-present threat of the mob. This book is a must-read for fans of thrilling suspense and complex character dynamics.